I’m going to start this post off with a confession.
This was originally meant to be a New Years post…all about how I’m not a fan of resolutions because all of us seem to make those without any real intention of making a change. And how I don’t exactly make them myself, but I do try to at least set some goals to help me become someone I would want to be friends with and can be happy looking at in the mirror each day.
It was going to be a post similar to this one in general. but you would have read it 6 months ago. And then life happened and the idea got shelved…until now.
The nice thing about New Year’s is that you have this lull in between the years to reflect and think about life…as you lay in a vegetative like state, letting all the food digest to your hips and waist from the feasts of the last month. It’s also a wonderful time to get your priorities in the right place, look at where you want to go, and figure out how to make that happen. Planning and taking baby steps make all the difference in the world.
But really, any time of year is a great time to turn yourself into a better you. And since Stefan and I are starting some new fitness goals…and I never really did put my thoughts out there about what I want to work on this year…well, here goes!
10 Ways I Will Improve Over The Next 6 Months
- Be kind — I can be nasty sometimes. Downright mean. And often I don’t intend to be or even think that my actions are mean…but it’s the not the person I want to be. So I’m focusing on being positive. And happy. To be less cynical and sarcastic (which is oh so difficult). Not only because I want to be better myself…but also because I don’t want to raise the world’s worst 7-year-old cynic either. That one has enough sass for the both of us!
- Prioritize correctly — It’s wildly easy to forget that our time with our children as youngin’s is very limited. And while it’s important that they learn values, morals, ethics and something about personal spending, it’s also not always important to follow every rule. I like to examine my overall priorities often, and put my family (especially my husband and my daughter — and yes in that very important order) first. Unfortunately, work is also a huge priority because the bills must get paid…and that money tree I planted is slow growing. So finding a way to show how truly important family is while also being a workaholic and getting things done isn’t always easy. Make sure you evaluate your priorities often and look at how much time you actually devote to each one. Try to find a way to spend more time with the important things in life, not doing the stuff you dislike!
- Drive actively — I’m not a fan of inattentive drivers. And try to rarely look at my own phone while driving unless it’s my navigator. It’s dangerous, careless and rude. Plus I don’t think it’s a good example to teach our kids and we have people being killed on our local streets daily because of people who run them down. I for one want to make sure I don’t cause an accident or maybe could avoid one be driving proactively…so I’ll do my best to stay alert. And maybe we can also try being just a bit more patient.
- Stop blaming others – I feel like many people suffer from this, especially with the latest Millennial generation. But I am guilty of trying to push the blame on someone else when things go wrong…or a frog in my pocket. I’m pretty sure it’s natural to feel defensive when you’re told you’re wrong or when things don’t go your way. And sometimes that’s just poor luck or others factors that keep something from happening. But it could also be you…and a lack of trying or full on self sabotage that are keeping you from excelling in life. So keep an open mind and know that we’re all allowed to make mistakes…as long as we make a point to learn from them.
- Plan more – I often find myself thinking that there are not enough hours in the day. Planning is the only way to make sure that you have fun while also doing all the stuff you must take care of as well. I am also a big fan of meal planning, because lets face it, who wants to think about what they should cook for dinner when their brain has been working hard all day. When I plan, we eat better, healthier and at a normal time of the day…which rocks. Experiences are also important to us, so we are always examining our calendar for reasons to get away and go explore somewhere new, even if it’s in our own backyard.
- Have less — After spending many years always upgrading in the sizes of our homes, it’s been extremely refreshing to not have more than 2,000 sq. ft. to clean, decorate and deal with. Because of that less, we have more time to going out on the boat with friends, taking vacations, exploring and more…without all of us having to sit at home and clean the house.
- Get more organized — I know where things are…but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is perfectly organized. So before the end of the year, I want to bring more order into our home. Then maybe other people can find things too. And we’ll use what we have…or get rid of it! Building out closets is also a priority. I’m convinced the more organized we are, the more free time we’ll find because things in our house will have a “home” and everything will be easier & faster to clean up.
- Work smarter — Learning how to work smarter instead of harder is tricky…but for an entrepreneur, it’s essential. You have to know when to outsource, when to say no, and when to reapply your focus elsewhere. You also need goals. So set goals and milestones, then break it down into stepping stones and paths to get there. Think outside the box and never stop learning new things.
- Exercise regularly — Now that I’m 36, I know how important it is to take good care of my body. So I’m doing my best to get in shape now so that all I need to do later is maintain…which always gets tougher as you age anyway. If you’re not happy with the body you have, it’s ok. There’s never a wrong time to start toward a better you.
- Dine healthy — Healthier eating equals a healthier you. In my experience, if you eat 6 small portions a day, with balanced protein and carbs, and lots of veggies, you have more energy and your metabolism is able to keep up better. Plus cutting out sweets, soda and alcohol from your diet can make a big difference. So I try to eat clean most of the time, and I have one cheat day a week. Do I cheat more often? It’s been known to happen — but I also know I’ll be the one paying later at the gym or when I look in the mirror.
Those are my intentions for the year. Now it’s your turn. What have you been working on so far this year? What have you achieved? And what are you still working on for the rest of the year? Chime in with your comment below!
